Hello my name is Wally Wonks

The Mostro Lounge

Wandering through the watery halls, Wally arrives at a swanky-looking speakeasy cafe type thing. (A2: did you notice my alliteration? Common literary techniques W)

It's filled with students from different dorms, and the jazzy swingy music playing makes Wally want to swing a heel, but he manages to restrain himself.

"Oh hello Walls!" Says a voice behind him.

"Hoi Jake, didn't expect to find you in this place!" Wally replies coolly and totally not surprised. "Nice place, isn't it? I heard Azul is really businesslike, but I didn't expect-"

Wally suddenly trails off, making a strangled little gay gasping noise as he spots the eel guys waiting tables and taking orders and stuff.

"Yea it seems like a nice place, why'd you stop talking th-" Jake says while following Wally's gaze, "...Don't tell me you have a crush on those eel men" Jake sighs.

"Crush? Me? No. That's brazy. I would never," Wally says weakly, still goggling at the eel men. "I'm simply... interested in their anatomy. I'm into marine biology, you know. It's purely scientific curiosity."

Floyd picks up a heavy object with ease, and Wally almost faints.

"Mhm yeah totally." Jake says sarcastically. (A1: is that what sarcasm is?? Idk anymore) (A2: yes it is)

"Anyways, wanna grab a drink?" Jake asks.

"Certainly" Wally says in a very dignified way. (A1: idk words help)

They sit down at a booth and peruse the menu. Jake decides on a chocolate milk drink thing (a1: idk) while Wally thoughtfully stroked his chin. "I think I would like this teh tarik based drink here," he informs Jake gravely, and then looks at him expectantly.

"I dunno what teh tarik is man, you should probably just ask the waiter If they have it" says Jake.

Wally looks at Jake like he's just asked for both of his kidneys, and shakes his head assertively, trying to do a Jedi mind trick. "You order," he says, giving Jake some money and grinning solemnly.

"No, you order. Didn't you say you wanna learn more about eels? This is your time, you get ta speak to them and look at them up close." Jake says assertively.

Wally hisses, looking like a wet, disgruntled cat, but reluctantly acquiesces. "Fine, I'll order my own thing, but you call them here."

"Fine." Says Jake happily whilst raising his hand. When the waiter arrives, Wally peers at him suspiciously from behind Jake. Jake can't tell which twin it is, but from Wally's extensive previous staring at both of them he can tell it's Jade.

Jade smiles politely. "Ready to order?"

"Yea, I'll have one chocolate macchiato" Jake says coolly, then discreetly nudges Wally to order.

"Teh tarik, please," Wally mumbles reluctantly, staring at Jade's mouth when the latter speaks, trying to determine if he has a second mouth inside. After all, he can't just ask him to open his mouth real wide-- that would be scandalous! (A2: It would be the equivalent of asking him for nudes or smth; see the note on gaping)

Jade nods politely. "Anything else?"

"Yes," Wally mumbles, using Jake as a shield. "Would you mind openi-" Jake quickly clamps his hand over Wally's mouth, giving Jade a strained smile. "No, we're good, thanks."

With that, Jade left to the counter, leaving Wally to the judgement of Jake.

"What made you think asking the waiter who's an eel to open their mouth — aka their private part— was appropriate ?!?!" Jake says, annoyed.

"You said it's my chance to talk to him and look at him up close," Wally replies peevishly. "And eels' mouths are not their private parts! I was simply curious if he had a second mouth inside his main mouth, like proper eels do. It's not like I asked to see his dick, which I'm also curious about— for scientific reasons!! Proper eels don't have genitals!!" (A1: a2 u lied to me u said it was) (A2: ??? Wdym bro I told you that time in PE) (A1:u said that their private part is their 2nd mouth????) (A2: I NEVER SAID THAT) (a1:YES YOU DID STOP LYING)

"I didn't say that you should ask him to open his mouth though?!?" Jake says annoyed.

Wally scoffs. "Well, you didn't say I shouldn't ask him to open his mouth. Besides, he's my senior, so it's his responsibility to answer questions I may have."

"Just because he's your senior doesn't mean that you should violate his personal space! Honestly, you and Lina are just the same" Jake sighs (A1: idk is that violating personal space? Neurodivergence goes brrr)

Wally is about to respond heatedly with a no doubt absolutely devastating, world-ending comeback, when he suddenly deflates like a balloon, going behind Jake like an ostrich sticking its head in the sand. Floyd, the other eel twin, has come over.

"Shrimpy," Floyd says, addressing Wally. He turns to Jake. "Sea lemon. You fightin'? Disruptive clientele will be thrown out, boss's orders." He grins with a mouthful of sharp teeth.

"Nah we aren't arguing right?" Jake says coolly.

"I'm not arguing," Wally mumbles righteously, "I would never —I'm a good boy— but he is. He's being disruptive. Throw him out." He points at Jake solemnly.

"Alright then, Sea Lemon, get out" Floyd says.

"I- what? You know what, fine. Bye Wally." Jake says.

"Bye, Sea Lemon," Wally replies, solemnly waving goodbye. He makes a complicated hand gesture that's supposed to mean: "Thanks for being such a pal, Jake, I'll text you what happens later. Wish me luck and plenty of rizz."

Wally isn't sure if Jake understands the message.

Jake's POV

Jake leaves the cafe very confused. What the heck did Wally mean with those hand gestures?? All he understood was that he was texting him later and something something rizz? He's gonna text him something about rizz? He then realizes he left his drink back at the cafe! "It was a good drink too!" He says to himself sadly.

Ding! A notification pops up on his phone. Opening WhatsApp, he finds a message from Wally: a selfie of him holding Jake's drink, looking gravely into the camera. It's captioned: "You forgot your drink. Don't worry, I'm drinking it for you. Next one's on me"

Jake then texts back, "Okay than, cya at the opening feast! Try not to faint in front of those waiters." He exits the Octavinelle mirror, arriving at the Hall of Mirrors, and enters the Heartslabyul mirror.